Call forwarding system and method for forwarding a call to a terminal through near-field wireless communication

ABSTRACT

In a call forwarding system, a management apparatus of the call forwarding system determines service terminals capable of near field wireless communication within a reception range of near field wireless communication, generates a terminal list, and receives a call event message reporting the receipt of a call from a reference terminal. The management apparatus may transmit a call report message including the terminal list to the reference terminal and the service terminals. The management apparatus may forward the call initially received by the reference terminal to a terminal which transmitted a receipt request message by transmitting a call forwarding request message to the reference terminal. The management apparatus may transmit, to the reference terminal and the service terminals, a receipt report message reporting the call was forwarded. According to a change receipt message or upon non-receipt by an intended terminal, the call may be reforwarded to another terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

-   -   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application        Ser. No. 16/378,338, filed on Apr. 8, 2019 which is a        continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/988,020,        filed on May 24, 2018 which is a continuation of U.S. patent        application Ser. No. 15/457,560, filed on Mar. 13, 2017, which        is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.        15/082,832, filed on Mar. 28, 2016, which is a continuation of        U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/685,143, filed on Apr. 13,        2015, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,300,805, which is a continuation        of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/058,968, filed on Oct.        21, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,008,637, which is a        continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/182,024,        filed on Jul. 13, 2011, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,583,098, and        claims priority from and the benefit of Korean Patent        Application No. 10-2011-0000808, filed on Jan. 5, 2011, all of        which are incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully        set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Field

The following description relates to a call forwarding system and methodfor forwarding a call to a terminal through near-field wirelesscommunication.

Discussion of the Background

A call transfer service enables a subscriber to forward an incoming callreceived by a home telephone to a mobile terminal or another telephoneif the subscriber is unavailable at a particular location.

Conventionally, call transfer services transfer all incoming calls to apredetermined registered phone number, and do not provide variousservice functions such as selective call transfer. Moreover, theconventional call transfer services cause inconveniences for users andhave limitations in transferring an existing call to another terminal.

Accordingly, there is a need for a more convenient call transferservice.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a serviceterminal, reference terminal, and managing apparatus of a callforwarding system using near-field wireless communication, where a callto the reference terminal is forwarded to the service terminal inresponse to a forwarding message. Exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention also provide a method for forwarding the call from a referenceterminal to a service terminal through near-field wireless communicationin response to a forwarding message.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a referenceterminal to provide a call forwarding service, including a communicationunit to receive a call; a near field wireless communication unit totransceive a message including call forwarding information via nearfield wireless communication, and to forward the call via near fieldwireless communication; a reporting unit to transmit a call reportmessage including a terminal list to a first service terminal, the firstservice terminal included in the terminal list; and a request processingunit to receive a receipt request message via near field wirelesscommunication and to forward the call to the first service terminal inresponse to the receipt request message.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a terminal toreceive a call forwarding service, including a near field wirelesscommunication unit to transmit and receive a message including callforwarding information via near field wireless communication; a messageprocessing unit to extract call information and a terminal list includedin a call report message if the message processing unit receives thecall report message including information that a call was received by areference terminal; and a display control unit to control a display ofthe call information and the terminal list.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a call forwardingsystem, including a reference terminal to transmit, to serviceterminals, a call report message including a terminal list of theservice terminals located within a reception range of near fieldwireless communication if a call is received, and to forward the call toa first service terminal in response to a receipt request message, vianear field wireless communication; and the first service terminal toreceive the call report message via near field wireless communicationfrom the reference terminal and to display the terminal list, and toreceive the call forwarded by the reference terminal.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method forproviding a call forwarding service, including receiving a call;determining a first service terminal capable of near field wirelesscommunication and located within a reception range of near fieldwireless communication; generating a terminal list including informationof the service terminal; transmitting a call report message includingthe terminal list; forwarding the call to the first service terminal inresponse to a receipt request message; and transmitting a receipt reportmessage reporting that the call is forwarded to the first serviceterminal.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method forreceiving a call forwarding service, including receiving a call reportmessage from a reference terminal, the call report message includinginformation of a receipt of a call; extracting call information and aterminal list included in the call report message; displaying the callinformation and the terminal list; transmitting, to the referenceterminal, a receipt request message including information that a serviceterminal will receive the call if the service terminal receives a callreceiving input; and receiving at the service terminal the call of thereference terminal via near field wireless communication.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a managementapparatus to control a call forwarding service, including a near fieldwireless communication unit to transmit and receive a message includinginformation of call forwarding to and from a reference terminal and aservice terminal via near field wireless communication, and to forward acall via near field wireless communication; a call sensing unit todetermine that a call was received by the reference terminal in responseto a call event message from the reference terminal; a list generatingunit to determine the service terminal capable of near field wirelesscommunication and located within a reception range of the near fieldwireless communication, and to generate a terminal list including theservice terminal; a reporting unit to transmit a call report messageincluding the terminal list to the reference terminal and the serviceterminal; and a request processing unit to forward the call of thereference terminal to the service terminal in response to a receiptrequest message, via near field wireless communication, and to transmita call forwarding request message to the reference terminal if therequest processing unit receives the receipt request message.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a referenceterminal to provide a call forwarding service, including a communicationunit to receive a call; a near field wireless communication unit totransmit and to receive a message for call forwarding to and from amanagement apparatus via near field wireless communication, and toforward the call via near field wireless communication; and a callsensing unit to transmit, to the management apparatus, a call eventmessage reporting that the call was received if the communication unitreceives the call; and a call forwarding processing unit to forward thecall to a terminal which requested to receive the call, through themanagement apparatus connected via near field wireless communication, ifthe call forwarding processing unit receives a call forwarding requestmessage from the management apparatus.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a terminal toreceive a call forwarding service, including a near field wirelesscommunication unit to transmit and to receive a message for callforwarding to and from a management apparatus via near field wirelesscommunication; and a message processing unit to receive a call reportmessage from the management apparatus, and to retrieve call informationand a terminal list included in the call report message that a call wasreceived by a reference terminal; and a display unit to display the callinformation and the terminal list.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a call forwardingsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a management apparatus to managea call forwarding service in the call forwarding system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a reference terminal to provide acall forwarding service in the call forwarding system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a service terminal to receive acall forwarding service in the call forwarding system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process for managing a callforwarding service in the management apparatus of the call forwardingsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process for providing a callforwarding service in the reference terminal of the call forwardingsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process for receiving a callforwarding service in the service terminal of the call forwarding systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of call forwarding in the callforwarding system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of call forwarding in the callforwarding system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of call forwarding in the callforwarding system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of call forwarding in the callforwarding system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a callforwarding system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a referenceterminal in the call forwarding system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a serviceterminal in the call forwarding system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theexemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplaryembodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough, and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwisedescribed, the same drawing reference numerals are understood to referto the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size anddepiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity,illustration, and convenience.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected to” another element, it can be directly connected to theother element, or intervening elements may be present.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentdisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. doesnot denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotes the presence ofat least one of the referenced item. The use of the terms “first”,“second”, and the like does not imply any particular order, but they areincluded to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the termsfirst, second, etc. does not denote any order or importance, but ratherthe terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element fromanother. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, regions,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will notbe interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expresslyso defined herein.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a near field wirelesscommunication system and method for reporting a reception of a callsignal received by a reference terminal to service terminals via nearfield wireless communication and for forwarding a corresponding call toa terminal which requests to receive the call.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a call forwardingsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the call forwarding system 100 may include amanagement apparatus 110, a reference terminal 120, and serviceterminals 130, 140, 150, and 160.

The management apparatus 110 may control the process for forwarding acall received by the reference terminal 120 to at least one of theservice terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160 capable of near field wirelesscommunication.

The reference terminal 120 may receive a call and provide the call to beforwarded. The reference terminal 120 may be a wired terminal such as ahome telephone, or a wireless mobile terminal. In an example, theservice terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160 may serve as a referenceterminal. Further, the reference terminal 120 may be one of multipleterminals 130, 140, 150, and 160 capable of near field wirelesscommunication with the management apparatus 110 within a reception rangeof the near field wireless communication.

The service terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160 (“service terminals”) mayreceive a call from the reference terminal 120 through the managementapparatus 110, and may provide a call service to a user.

The management apparatus 110, the reference terminal 120, and theservice terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160 are described below in moredetail with reference to FIG. 2 through FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the management apparatus 110 tomanage a call forwarding service in the call forwarding system 100according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the management apparatus 110 may include a controlunit 210, a near field wireless communication unit 220, a call sensingunit 211, a list generating unit 212, a reporting unit 213, and arequest processing unit 214.

The near field wireless communication unit 220 may transmit and receivea message including call forwarding information to and from thereference terminal 120 and the service terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160via near field wireless communication, and may forward a call via nearfield wireless communication.

The call sensing unit 211 may receive a call event message that includescall reception information from the reference terminal 120. The callevent message notifies the management apparatus 110 that a call wasreceived by the reference terminal 120.

The list generating unit 212 may communicate with the service terminals130, 140, 150, and 160 located within a reception range of near fieldwireless communication, and may generate a terminal list includingavailable service terminal information with relevant time and serviceterminal status information.

The reporting unit 213 may transmit a call report message including theterminal list to the reference terminal 120 and/or the service terminals130, 140, 150, and 160.

The receipt request message is a message transmitted from a serviceterminal, for example service terminal 130, to the request processingunit 214 to request call forwarding to the service terminal 130, and thecall forwarding request message is a message transmitted from therequest processing unit 214 to the reference terminal 120 to requestcall forwarding. If the request processing unit 214 receives a receiptrequest message, the request processing unit 214 may control forwardingof a call corresponding to the information included in the receiptrequest message from the reference terminal 120 to the service terminal130, which transmitted the receipt request message via near fieldwireless communication by transmitting a call forwarding request messageto the reference terminal 120. If the reference terminal 120 receivesthe call forwarding request message from the request processing unit214, the reference terminal 120 may forward the call to the serviceterminal 130 which requested the call forwarding directly or through therequest processing unit 214 according to the call forwarding requestmessage. If the request processing unit 214 forwards the call initiallyreceived by the reference terminal 120 to the service terminal 130 whichtransmitted the receipt request message, the reporting unit 213 maytransmit, to the reference terminal 120 and the service terminals 130,140, 150, and 160, a receipt report message including information of theservice terminal 130 to which the call was forwarded.

If the request processing unit 214 receives a receipt designationmessage before receiving the receipt request message, the requestprocessing unit 214 may determine a terminal which transmitted thereceipt designation message as a receipt commanding terminal, and maydetermine a call receiving terminal (or a “target terminal”), to whichthe call is to be forwarded, by retrieving information of the callreceiving terminal included in the receipt designation message. Then,the reporting unit 213 may transmit, to the reference terminal 120 andthe service terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160, a receipt designationreport message including information of the receipt commanding terminaland information of the call receiving terminal.

In an example, the reference terminal 120 or one of the serviceterminals 130, 140, 150, and 160 may transmit the receipt designationmessage to the request processing unit 214. If the request processingunit 214 receives more than two receipt designation messages fromdifferent terminals, the reporting unit 213 may transmit, to theterminals designated as a receipt commanding terminal or a callreceiving terminal, a receipt designation confirmation message includingeach receipt commanding terminal and corresponding call receivingterminal. After comparing more than two receipt designations, terminalswhich receive the receipt designation confirmation message may transmita receipt redesignation message including new receipt commandingterminal and call receiving terminal. The request processing unit 214may determine finalized receipt commanding terminal and call receivingterminal based on the receipt redesignation messages.

In another example, the request processing unit 214 may determine afinalized receipt commanding terminal and a finalized call receivingterminal based on a result of an analysis. Hereinafter, exemplaryembodiments of the analysis will be described. If mobile terminal Atransmits a receipt designation message including a call receiptterminal as C and mobile terminal B transmits a receipt designationmessage including a call receipt terminal as B itself, then the requestprocessing unit 214 may create a list of receipt designation informationas shown in first two rows in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Receipt commanding Call receiving terminal terminal (Targetterminal) A C B B C D D E E E

With reference to Table 1, the request processing unit 214 may excludeA, C and D as a finalized call receiving terminal because A, C, and D donot designated themselves as a call receiving terminal. Thus, theremaining candidates of the finalized call receiving terminal are B andE. The request processing unit 214 may determine E as the finalized callreceiving terminal because the number of designation for E as the callreceiving terminal is more than that for B. Further, the requestprocessing unit 214 may determine D and E, direct designators, as thefinalized receipt commanding terminals or A, C, D and E, both indirectand direct designators, as the finalized receipt commanding terminals.

TABLE 2 Receipt commanding Call receiving terminal terminal (Targetterminal) A B B C C D D C E A

With reference to Table 2, if all of the available terminals (A throughE) are excluded by designating other terminal as a call receivingterminal, the request processing unit 214 may determine C as a finalizedcall receiving terminal because the number of designation for C as thecall receiving terminal is more than that for the other terminals.Further, the request processing unit 214 may determine B and D, directdesignators, as the finalized receipt commanding terminals or A, B, C, Dand E, both indirect and direct designators, as the finalized receiptcommanding terminals.

TABLE 3 Receipt commanding Call receiving terminal terminal (Targetterminal) A B B C C D D E E A

As shown in Table 3, if designation is circular, the request processingunit 214 may determine ‘ALL’ (or ‘A, B, C, D, E’) as a finalized callreceiving terminal and determine ‘ALL’ (or ‘A, B, C, D, E’) as afinalized receipt commanding terminal.

After the call of the reference terminal 120 is forwarded to the serviceterminal 130 which transmitted the receipt request message, if therequest processing unit 214 receives a receipt change message from theterminal to which the call was forwarded, the request processing unit214 may determine a changed call receiving terminal to which the call isto be received, by retrieving information of the changed call receivingterminal included in the receipt change message. Then, the requestprocessing unit 214 may transmit a change request message requesting thereception of the call to the changed call receiving terminal.

If the request processing unit 214 receives a change response messagefrom the changed call receiving terminal, the request processing unit214 may forward the call to the changed call receiving terminal. Then,the reporting unit 213 may transmit, to the reference terminal 120 andthe service terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160, a change report messagereporting that the receipt of the call was changed. This change isreferred to herein as “reforwarding” and is described in more detailbelow.

The control unit 210 may control the entire operation of the managementapparatus 110. Also, the control unit 210 may perform functions of thecall sensing unit 211, the list generating unit 212, the reporting unit213, and the request processing unit 214. The present embodimentseparately describes functions of the control unit 210, the call sensingunit 211, the list generating unit 212, the reporting unit 213, and therequest processing unit 214. Alternatively, the control unit 110 mayinclude at least one processor configured to perform a portion of or allthe functions of one or more of the call sensing unit 211, the listgenerating unit 212, the reporting unit 213, and the request processingunit 214.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the reference terminal 120 toprovide a call forwarding service in the call forwarding system 100according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The reference terminal 120 may be a home telephone capable of wiredand/or wireless communication, and may be one of service terminals readyfor near field wireless communication in a reception range of near fieldwireless communication.

Referring to FIG. 3, the reference terminal 120 may include a controlunit 310, a communication unit 320, a near field wireless communicationunit 330, a display unit 340, a call sensing unit 311, a call forwardingprocessing unit 312, a message processing unit 313, and a displaycontrol unit 314.

The communication unit 320 may initially receive a call from a wired ora wireless telephone service provider.

The near field wireless communication unit 330 may transmit and receivea message including call forwarding information to and from themanagement apparatus 110 via near field wireless communication, and mayforward a call via near field wireless communication.

The display unit 340 may display state information or an indicator,including predetermined numbers and characters, a moving picture, and astill picture that may occur during operation of the reference terminal120. Also, the display unit 340 may output call forwarding informationoccurring during call forwarding in response to the control of thedisplay control unit 314.

If the communication unit 320 receives a call, the call sensing unit 311may transmit a call event message reporting the receipt of the call tothe management apparatus 110.

If the call forwarding processing unit 312 receives a call forwardingrequest message from the management apparatus 110, the call forwardingprocessing unit 312 may provide the call to a service terminal (in thisexample, service terminal 130), which requested to receive the call,through the management apparatus 110 connected via near field wirelesscommunication.

The message processing unit 313 may retrieve information included in amessage that the reference terminal 120 receives from the managementapparatus 110.

If the message processing unit 313 receives a call report message fromthe management apparatus 110, the message processing unit 313 mayextract a terminal list included in the call report message.

If the message processing unit 313 receives a receipt report messagefrom the management apparatus 110, the message processing unit 313 mayextract information of the service terminal 130 which received theforwarded call.

If the message processing unit 313 receives a change report message fromthe management apparatus 110, the message processing unit 313 mayextract information of the service terminal 130 which received thereforwarded call. The term “reforwarded” is explained in more detailbelow.

If the message processing unit 313 receives a receipt designation reportmessage from the management apparatus 110, the message processing unit313 may extract information of a receipt commanding terminal andinformation of a call receiving terminal included in the receiptdesignation report message.

The display control unit 314 may control the display unit 340 to displayinformation extracted by the message processing unit 132.

The control unit 310 may control the entire operation of the referenceterminal 120. Also, the control unit 310 may perform functions of thecall sensing unit 311, the call forwarding processing unit 312, themessage processing unit 313, and the display control unit 314. Thepresent embodiment separately describes functions of the control unit310, the call sensing unit 311, the call forwarding processing unit 312,the message processing unit 313, and the display control unit 314.Alternatively, the control unit 310 may include at least one processorconfigured to perform a portion of or all functions of one or more ofthe call sensing unit 311, the call forwarding processing unit 312, themessage processing unit 313, and the display control unit 314.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the service terminal 130 toreceive a call forwarding service in the call forwarding system 100according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the service terminal 130 may include a control unit410, a near field wireless communication unit 420, a display unit 430,an input unit 440, a message processing unit 411, a display control unit412, a requesting unit 413, and a call forwarding unit 414.

The near field wireless communication unit 420 may transmit and receivea message including call forwarding information to and from themanagement apparatus 110 via near field wireless communication and mayreceive a call via near field wireless communication.

The display unit 430 may display state information or an indicator,including predetermined numbers and characters, a moving picture, and astill picture that may occur during operation of the service terminal130. The display unit 430 may output information occurring during callforwarding in response to the control of the display control unit 412.

The input unit 440 may receive an input of a user of the serviceterminal 130 and may provide the input to the control unit 410. Theinput unit 440 may be configured in a device type of a key pad or atouch screen. The input unit 440 may receive various types of inputssuch as a call receipt commanding input, a call receiving input, and acall receiving terminal changing input.

The message processing unit 411 may extract information included inmessages received from the management apparatus 110.

If the message processing unit 411 receives a call report message fromthe management apparatus 110, the message processing unit 411 mayextract a terminal list included in the call report message.

If the message processing unit 411 receives a receipt report messagefrom the management apparatus 110, the message processing unit 411 mayextract information of a terminal which received the forwarded call.

If the message processing unit 411 receives a change report message fromthe management apparatus 110, the message processing unit 411 mayextract information of a terminal which received the reforwarded (asexplained in more detail below) call changed in receipt.

If the message processing unit 411 receives a receipt designation reportmessage from the management apparatus 110, the message processing unit411 may extract information of a receipt commanding terminal andinformation of a call receiving terminal included in the receiptdesignation report message.

The display control unit 412 may control the display unit 430 to displayinformation extracted by the message processing unit 411.

The requesting unit 413 may transmit, to the management apparatus 110, arequest corresponding to an input inputted into the input unit 440.

If the input unit 440 determines an input as a call receipt commandinginput, the requesting unit 413 may extract information of a callreceiving terminal to which the call is to be received, and may transmita receipt designation message including the information of the callreceiving terminal to the management apparatus 110.

If the input unit 440 determines an input as a call receiving input, therequesting unit 413 may transmit, to the management apparatus 110, areceipt request message reporting that the service terminal 130 willreceive the call.

After the requesting unit 413 transmits the receipt request message tothe management apparatus 110, the call forwarding unit 414 may receivethe call initially received by the reference terminal through themanagement apparatus 110 via near field wireless communication.

After the call is forwarded, if the input unit 440 receives anddetermines an input as a call receiving terminal changing input, therequesting unit 413 may extract information of a changed call receivingterminal, to which the call is to be received (“reforwarded”), and maytransmit, to the management apparatus 110, a receipt change messageincluding the information of the changed call receiving terminal. Asdescribed herein, the “reforwarded” call is a call for which theforwarding recipient is changed, such as according to a receipt changemessage sent by any one of the terminals in the near field wirelesscommunication range, or according to a non-receipt by an intended callreceiving terminal. A call may be reforwarded more than once, accordingto the conditions described above, or according to a preprogrammedsequence.

The control unit 410 may control the entire operation of the serviceterminal 130. Also, the control unit 410 may perform functions of themessage processing unit 411, the display control unit 412, therequesting unit 413, and the call forwarding unit 414. The presentembodiment separately describes functions of the control unit 410, themessage processing unit 411, the display control unit 412, therequesting unit 413, and the call forwarding unit 414. Alternatively,the control unit 410 may include at least one processor configured toperform a portion of or all functions of one or more of the messageprocessing unit 411, the display control unit 412, the requesting unit413, and the call forwarding unit 414.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of a method for forwarding a callto a service terminal connected via near field wireless communication inthe call forwarding system 100 is described below with reference to FIG.5.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process for managing a callforwarding service in the management apparatus 110 of the callforwarding system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 5 will be described according to the processperformed by the call forwarding system 100 shown in FIG. 1. However,FIG. 5 is not limited as such.

Referring to FIG. 5, if the management apparatus 110 receives a callevent message reporting that a call was received by the referenceterminal 120 in operation 510, the management apparatus 110 may confirmthe service terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160 capable of communicationvia near field wireless communication within a reception range of nearfield wireless communication, and may generate a terminal list, inoperation 512.

In operation 514, the management apparatus 110 may transmit a callreport message including the terminal list to the reference terminal 120and the service terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160.

If the management apparatus 110 receives a receipt designation messagein operation 516, the management apparatus 110 may extract informationof a receipt commanding terminal and information of a call receivingterminal, and may transmit, to the reference terminal 120 and theservice terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160, the receipt designation reportmessage including the information of the receipt commanding terminal andthe information of the call receiving terminal, in operation 518. Afterthe management apparatus 110 transmits the receipt designation reportmessage, the management apparatus 110 may wait to receive anotherreceipt designation message.

If the management apparatus 110 receives a receipt request message inoperation 520, the management apparatus 110 may control the forwardingof the call initially received by the reference terminal 120 to aservice terminal 130 which transmitted the receipt request message bytransmitting a call forwarding request message to the referenceterminal, in operation 522.

In operation 524, the management apparatus 110 may transmit, to thereference terminal 120 and the service terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160,a receipt report message reporting the receipt of the call.

After the call is forwarded, if the management apparatus 110 receives areceipt change message in operation 526 from the service terminal 130 towhich the call was forwarded, the management apparatus 110 may determinea changed call receiving terminal 140 to which the call is to bereceived (“reforwarded”), and may transmit, to the changed callreceiving terminal, a change request message requesting the receipt ofthe reforwarding call, in operation 528.

If the management apparatus 110 receives a change response message fromthe changed call receiving terminal in operation 530, the managementapparatus 110 may reforward the call to the changed call receivingterminal in operation 532.

In operation 534, the management apparatus 110 may transmit, to thereference terminal 120 and the service terminals 130, 140, 150, and 160,a change report message reporting that the receipt of the call waschanged.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process for providing a callforwarding service in the reference terminal 120 of the call forwardingsystem 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 6 will be described according to the process performedby the call forwarding system 100 shown in FIG. 1. However, FIG. 6 isnot limited as such.

Referring to FIG. 6, if the reference terminal 120 receives a call inoperation 610, the reference terminal 120 may transmit, to themanagement apparatus 110, a call event message reporting that the callwas received by the reference terminal 120, in operation 612.

In operation 614, the reference terminal 120 may receive a call reportmessage from the management apparatus 110 and may display a terminallist included in the call report message.

If the reference terminal 120 receives a call forwarding request messagefrom the management apparatus 110 in operation 616, the referenceterminal 120 may forward the call to a service terminal 130 whichrequested to receive the call through the management apparatus 110, inoperation 618.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process for receiving a callforwarding service in the service terminal 130 of the call forwardingsystem 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 7 will be described according to the process performedby the call forwarding system 100 shown in FIG. 1. However, FIG. 7 isnot limited as such.

Referring to FIG. 7, if the service terminal 130 receives, from themanagement apparatus 110, a call report message reporting that a callwas received in the reference terminal 120, in operation 710, theservice terminal 130 may extract and display call information and aterminal list included in the call report message in operation 712.

If the service terminal 130 receives an input and determines the inputas a call receipt commanding input in operation 714, the serviceterminal 130 may extract the inputted information of a call receivingterminal to which the call is to be received, and transmit a receiptdesignation message including the information of the call receivingterminal to the management apparatus 110, in operation 716.

If the service terminal 130 receives an input and determines the inputas a call receiving input in operation 718, the service terminal 130 maywait to receive the call of the reference terminal 120 through themanagement apparatus 110 via near field wireless communication bytransmitting, to the management apparatus 110, a receipt request messagereporting that the service terminal 130 will receive the call, inoperation 720.

After the call is forwarded, if the service terminal 130 receives aninput and determines the input as a call receiving terminal changinginput in operation 722, the service terminal 130 may extract informationof a changed call receiving terminal representing a terminal to whichthe call is to be received (“reforwarded”), and may transmit a receiptchange message including information of the changed call receivingterminal to the management apparatus 110, in operation 724.

If the service terminal 130 receives a receipt report message from themanagement apparatus 110, the service terminal 130 may displayinformation of a terminal which received the call.

If the service terminal 130 receives a change report message from themanagement apparatus 110, the service terminal 130 may displayinformation of a terminal which received the call changed in receipt(“the reforwarded call”).

If the service terminal 130 receives a receipt designation reportmessage from the management apparatus 110, the service terminal 130 maydisplay information of a receipt commanding terminal and information ofa call receiving terminal included in the receipt designation reportmessage.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the call forwarding system 100 aredescribed below with reference to FIG. 8 through FIG. 11. FIG. 8 throughFIG. 11 illustrate a call forwarding service displayed on the ‘me’terminal. In these examples, a home telephone is a reference terminal,and the ‘father’ terminal, the ‘mother’ terminal, the ‘sister’ terminal,and the ‘me’ terminal are service terminals located within a receptionrange of near-field wireless communication. FIG. 8 through FIG. 11 willbe described according to the process performed by the call forwardingsystem 100 shown in FIG. 1. However, FIG. 8 through FIG. 11 not limitedas such.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of call forwarding in the callforwarding system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, if the ‘me’ terminal receives a call report messagefrom a management apparatus 110, the ‘me’ terminal may output that acall was received in the reference terminal, the home telephone, alongwith a terminal list, in operation 810.

If the ‘me’ terminal receives a receipt report message reporting thatthe ‘father’ terminal received the call, the ‘me’ terminal may displaythat the call was received in the ‘father’ terminal, in operation 820.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of call forwarding in the callforwarding system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, if the ‘me’ terminal receives a call report messagefrom the management apparatus 110, the ‘me’ terminal may output that acall was received in the reference terminal, the home telephone, alongwith a terminal list, in operation 910.

If the ‘me’ terminal receives, from the management apparatus 110, areceipt designation report message reporting that a receipt commandingterminal is the ‘father’ terminal and a call receiving terminal is the‘me’ terminal, the ‘me’ terminal may display that the ‘father’ terminalcommands the ‘me’ terminal to receive the call, in operation 920.

If the ‘me’ terminal receives an input and determines the input as acall receiving input, the ‘me’ terminal may receive the call through themanagement apparatus 110 and may display that the call was received inthe ‘me’ terminal, in operation 930.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of call forwarding in the callforwarding system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, if the ‘me’ terminal receives a call reportmessage from the management apparatus 110, the ‘me’ terminal may outputthat a call was received in the reference terminal, the home telephone,along with a terminal list, in operation 1010.

If the ‘me’ terminal receives, from the management apparatus 110, areceipt designation report message reporting that a receipt commandingterminal is the ‘father’ terminal and a call receiving terminal is the‘me’ terminal, the ‘me’ terminal may display that the ‘father’ terminalcommands the ‘me’ terminal to receive the call, in operation 1020.

The ‘me’ terminal may transmit, to the management apparatus 110, areceipt designation message designating the ‘sister’ terminal as a callreceiving terminal and may display that the ‘me’ terminal commands the‘sister’ terminal to receive the call, in operation 1030.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of call forwarding in the callforwarding system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 11, if the ‘me’ terminal receives a call reportmessage from the management apparatus 110, the ‘me’ terminal may outputthat a call was received in the reference terminal, the home telephone,along with a terminal list, in operation 1110.

If the ‘me’ terminal receives, from the management apparatus 110, areceipt report message reporting that the ‘father’ terminal received thecall, the ‘me’ terminal may display that the call was received in the‘father’ terminal, in operation 1120.

If the ‘me’ terminal receives, from the management apparatus 110, achange report message reporting that a change commanding terminal is the‘father’ terminal and a changed call receiving terminal is the ‘me’terminal, the ‘me’ terminal may display that the ‘father’ terminalrequests to change the receipt of the call to the ‘me’ terminal, inoperation 1130.

A service terminal may display a relationship among a reference terminaland service terminals based on the information of the terminal list.Further, call forwarding status information such as call forwardingrequest information and call forwarding designation information may bedisplayed on the display unit of a service terminal. In an example, spurgear shaped (dotted line and solid line) icon and arrows may be used asindicators for the call forwarding status information.

The management apparatus 110 and the reference terminal 120 may beconfigured as one device. That is, a reference terminal 120 may performfunctions of the management apparatus 110. A structure of a callforwarding system including a reference terminal performing functions ofa management apparatus is described below with reference to FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a callforwarding system 1200 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, the call forwarding system 1200 may include areference terminal 1220 and service terminals 1230, 1240, 1250, and1260.

The reference terminal 1220 may be a terminal to provide a call to beforwarded, and may forward a call to one or more of the serviceterminals 1230, 1240, 1250, and 1260 capable of and within a receptionrange of near field wireless communication. The reference terminal 1220may be a wired terminal, for example, a home telephone.

The service terminals 1230, 1240, 1250, and 1260 may receive a callreceived in the reference terminal 1220 via near field wirelesscommunication and may provide a call service to a user.

The reference terminal 1220 and the service terminals 1230, 1240, 1250,and 1260 are described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 13and FIG. 14.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of the referenceterminal 1220 in the call forwarding system 1200 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The reference terminal 1220 may be a home telephone capable ofwired/wireless communication, or may be one of service terminals capableof near field wireless communication within a reception range of nearfield wireless communication.

Referring to FIG. 13, the reference terminal 1220 may include a controlunit 1310, a communication unit 1320, a near field wirelesscommunication unit 1330, a display unit 1340, a list generating unit1312, a reporting unit 1314, and a request processing unit 1316.

The communication unit 1320 may receive a call.

The near field wireless communication unit 1330 may transmit and receivea message including call forwarding information to and from the serviceterminals 1230, 1240, 1250, and 1260 via near field wirelesscommunication, and may forward a call via near field wirelesscommunication.

The display unit 1340 may display state information or an indicatorincluding predetermined, retrieved, or inputted numbers and characters,a moving picture, and a still picture that may occur during operation ofthe reference terminal 1220.

The list generating unit 1312 may determine the service terminals 1230,1240, 1250, and 1260 capable of and within a reception range of nearfield wireless communication, and may generate a terminal list.

The reporting unit 1314 may transmit a call report message including theterminal list to the service terminals 1230, 1240, 1250, and 1260. Thecall report message also includes information that the referenceterminal 1220 received a call.

If the request processing unit 1316 receives a receipt request message,the request processing unit 1316 may forward the call to a serviceterminal, which transmitted the receipt request message such as serviceterminal 1230, via near field wireless communication. If the requestprocessing unit 1316 forwards the call to a service terminal 1230 whichtransmitted the receipt request message, the reporting unit 1314 maytransmit, to the service terminals 1230, 1240, 1250, and 1260, a receiptreport message including information of the service terminal 1230 towhich the call was forwarded.

If the request processing unit 1316 receives a receipt designationmessage before receiving the receipt request message, the requestprocessing unit 1316 may determine the service terminal 1230, whichtransmitted the receipt designation message, as a receipt commandingterminal, and may determine a call receiving terminal to which the callis to be forwarded, by extracting information of the call receivingterminal included in the receipt designation message. Then, thereporting unit 1314 may transmit, to the service terminals 1230, 1240,1250, and 1260, a receipt designation report message including theinformation of the receipt commanding terminal and information of thecall receiving terminal.

After the call is forwarded to the service terminal 1230 whichtransmitted the receipt request message, if the request processing unit1316 receives a receipt change message from the service terminal 1230 towhich the call was forwarded, the request processing unit 1316 maydetermine a changed call receiving terminal to which the call is to bereceived (“reforwarded”), by extracting information of the changed callreceiving terminal included in the receipt change message, and maytransmit, to the changed call receiving terminal, a change requestmessage requesting the receipt of the call.

If the request processing unit 1316 receives a change response messagefrom the changed call receiving terminal, the request processing unit1316 may forward the call to the changed call receiving terminal. Then,the reporting unit 1314 may transmit, to the service terminals 1230,1240, 1250, and 1260, a change report message reporting that the receiptof the call was changed.

The control unit 1310 may control the entire operation of the referenceterminal 1220. Also, the control unit 1310 may perform a portion of orall of the functions of one or more of the list generating unit 1312,the reporting unit 1314, and the request processing unit 1316. Thepresent embodiment separately describes functions of the control unit1310, the list generating unit 1312, the reporting unit 1314, and therequest processing unit 1316. Alternatively, the control unit 1310 mayinclude at least one processor configured to perform a portion of or allof the functions of one or more of the list generating unit 1312, thereporting unit 1314, and the request processing unit 1316.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of the serviceterminal 1230 in the call forwarding system 1200 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 14, the service terminal 1230 may include a controlunit 1410, a near field wireless communication unit 1420, a display unit1430, an input unit 1440, a message processing unit 1411, a displaycontrol unit 1412, a requesting unit 1413, and a call forwarding unit1414.

The near field wireless communication unit 1420 may transmit and receivea message including call forwarding information to and from thereference terminal 1220 via near field wireless communication, and mayreceive a call via near field wireless communication.

The display unit 1430 may display state information or an indicator,including predetermined, retrieved, or inputted numbers and characters,a moving picture, and a still picture that may occur during operation ofthe service terminal 1230. The display unit 1430 may output informationoccurring during call forwarding based on the control of the displaycontrol unit 1412.

The input unit 1440 may receive an input of a user of the serviceterminal 1230 and may provide the input to the control unit 1410. Theinput unit 1440 may be configured in the type of a key pad or a touchscreen. The input unit 1440 may receive an input such as a call receiptcommanding input, a call receiving input, and a call receiving terminalchanging input.

The message processing unit 1411 may extract information included inmessages received from the reference terminal 1220.

If the message processing unit 1411 receives a call report message fromthe reference terminal 1220, the message processing unit 411 may extracta terminal list included in the call report message.

If the message processing unit 1411 receives a receipt report messagefrom the reference terminal 1220, the message processing unit 411 mayextract information of a terminal which received the call.

If the message processing unit 1411 receives a change report messagefrom the reference terminal 1220, the message processing unit 1411 mayextract information of a terminal which received the call changed inreceipt.

If the message processing unit 1411 receives a receipt designationreport message from the reference terminal 1220, the message processingunit 1411 may extract information of a receipt commanding terminal andinformation of a call receiving terminal included in the receiptdesignation report message.

The display control unit 1412 may control the display unit 1430 todisplay information extracted by the message processing unit 1411.

The requesting unit 1413 may transmit, to the reference terminal 1220, arequest corresponding to an input inputted into the input unit 1410.

If the input unit 1440 receives an input and determines the input as acall receipt commanding input, the requesting unit 1413 may extractinformation of a call receiving terminal to which the call is to beforwarded, and may transmit a receipt designation message including theinformation of the call receiving terminal to the reference terminal1220.

If the input unit 1440 receives an input and determines the input as acall receiving input, the requesting unit 1413 may transmit, to thereference terminal 1220, a receipt request message reporting that theservice terminal 1230 will receive the call.

After the requesting unit 1413 transmits the receipt request message tothe reference terminal 1220, the call forwarding unit 1414 may receivethe call initially received by the reference terminal 1220 via nearfield wireless communication.

After the call is received (“forwarded”), if the input unit 1440receives an input and determines the input as a call receiving terminalchanging input, the requesting unit 1413 may extract information of achanged call receiving terminal to which the call is to be received(“reforwarded”) and may transmit, to the reference terminal 1220, areceipt change message including the information of the changed callreceiving terminal.

The control unit 1410 may control the entire operation of the serviceterminal 1230. Also, the control unit 1410 may perform a portion of orall functions of one or more of the message processing unit 1411, thedisplay control unit 1412, the requesting unit 1413, and the callforwarding unit 1414. The present embodiment separately describesfunctions of the control unit 1410, the message processing unit 1411,the display control unit 1412, the requesting unit 1413, and the callforwarding unit 1414. Alternatively, the control unit 1410 may includeat least one processor configured to perform a portion of or allfunctions of one or more of the message processing unit 1411, thedisplay control unit 1412, the requesting unit 1413, and the callforwarding unit 1414.

Further, exemplary embodiments of the invention may provide a callforwarding network including multiple terminals. The call forwardingnetwork may include multiple terminals capable of near field wirelesscommunication and the multiple terminals may share a terminal list. Themultiple terminals may be capable of serving as both a referenceterminal and a service terminal. If a terminal in the call forwardingnetwork initially receives a call, the terminal which received theinitial call may serve as a reference terminal and the other terminalsincluded in the terminal list of the reference terminal may serve asservice terminals. Further, for enhanced security, the referenceterminal may transmit the terminal list and call forwarding informationto the authenticated terminals. The authenticated terminals may beregistered terminals. Alternatively, the reference terminal may requestterminal information of a terminal and perform authentication of theterminal based on the terminal information of the terminal afterreceiving the terminal information.

The exemplary embodiments according to the present invention may berecorded in non-transitory computer-readable media including programinstructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. Themedia may also include, alone or in combination with the programinstructions, data files, data structures, and the like. The media andprogram instructions may be those specially designed and constructed forthe purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kindwell-known and available to those having skill in the computer softwarearts. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media includemagnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape;optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVD; magneto-optical media suchas optical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured tostore and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM),random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples ofprogram instructions include both machine code, such as produced by acompiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed bythe computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may beconfigured to act as one or more software modules in order to performthe operations of the above-described embodiments of the presentinvention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus to control a call forwardingservice, comprising: a direct wireless communication to transmit andreceive a message including information of call forwarding to and from aplurality of service terminals and to forward a call; and a controlcircuitry configured to: receive the call; determine the plurality ofservice terminals capable of communicating with the apparatus throughthe direct wireless communication; generate a list comprisinginformation of the plurality of service terminals; transmit the list tothe plurality of service terminals; receive a receipt request messagefrom a first service terminal among the plurality of service terminals;and forward the call to the first service terminal through the directwireless communication, wherein the receipt request message comprises anindication reporting that the first service terminal requests to receivethe forwarded call.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlcircuitry is further configured to: receive a receipt designationmessage including information of a receipt commanding terminal andinformation of a call receiving terminal; and transmit to the pluralityof service terminals a receipt designation report message including theinformation of the receipt commanding terminal and the information ofthe call receiving terminal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecontrol circuitry is further configured to: receive a receipt changemessage from the first service terminal; determine a changed callreceiving terminal among the plurality of service terminals excludingthe first service terminal; and transmit a change request messagerequesting a receipt of the call to the changed call receiving terminal.4. A method performed by a call forwarding terminal, comprising:receiving a call; transmitting a call event message comprising a messagereporting the received call; determining a terminal list comprising atleast one of service terminals capable of communicating with the callforwarding terminal through a direct wireless communication; receiving areceipt request message from the one of service terminals, wherein thereceipt request message comprises a message reporting that the one ofservice terminals requests to receive a forwarded call from the callforwarding terminal; and forwarding the call to the one of serviceterminals through the direct wireless communication.
 5. A methodperformed by a call receiving terminal, comprising: receiving a callreport message comprising a message reporting a reference terminalreceived a call, and a terminal list comprising at least one of serviceterminals capable of communicating with the reference terminal through adirect wireless communication; receiving an input from a user of thecall receiving terminal to receive the call received by the referenceterminal transmitting a receipt request message to the referenceterminal, wherein the receipt request message comprises a messagereporting that the call receiving terminal requests to receive aforwarded call from the reference terminal; and receiving the forwardedcall from the reference terminal through the direct wirelesscommunication.